Official: Chelsea sign €15m Cesare Casadei from Inter

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 19 Aug 2022 12:45 BST
• 3 min read

Breaking

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Inter midfielder Cesare Casadei.

The 19-year-old arrives at Stamford Bridge for an initial fee of €15 million, with a possible €4.8m to follow in bonus payments.

Chelsea have confirmed that he has signed a new six-year contract, which is in line with the club's new policy of handing young prospects lengthy deals in order to secure their future.

Ligue 1 side Nice also held a serious interest in the player.

Cesare Casadei: The new Frank Lampard?

In a statement published on Chelsea's official website, the club said: "The teenage midfielder is considered one of his homeland’s brightest prospects after shining at youth level for club and country, being part of the Italy side which reached the semi-finals of the European Under-19 Championship in the summer.

"Casadei is known as a complete midfielder, combining physicality and strength in the air with great timing in the challenge and excellent technique, as well as intelligent movement when arriving in the penalty area to score goals."

Although Casadei is yet to make his professional debut, he is regarded as a massive talent in Italy, where he has been touted as the next Frank Lampard - a comparison sure to get Chelsea fans excited given the legend's history of success with the club.

Why have Chelsea signed him?

Chelsea have signed Casadei with one eye to the future. Both Jorginho and N'Golo Kante, their two starting midfielders, are now the wrong side of 30, while there was no guarantee that either would stay at the club this summer until recently.

Although neither player will leave at this late stage of the window, an injury to Kante shows the vulnerability of the duo.

Casadei has, therefore, arrived to freshen up an ageing aspect of the Chelsea team, with the Blues having also recently added Carney Chukwuemeka on a big-money deal from Aston Villa.